JAY REATARD + PIXIES = GREAT BIG WANG!


Earlier this month, Memphis garage punk Jay Reatard lost his rhythm section. Bassist Stephen Pope and drummer Billy Hayes quit Reatard’s band, an event that Reatard himself addressed on his Twitter with characteristic restraint and maturity: “Fuck them! They are boring rich kids who can’t play for ahit anyways … Say hello to your ugly and boring wifes opps I mean lifes guys suck it.”

But the Matablog reports that Reatard has already lined up replacements: bassist Anders Thode and drummer Jacob Elving, both of the Danish punk band the Cola Freaks. The two will join Reatard on a European tour next week, and in November, they’ll come to the U.S. for more shows, including some opening the Pixies’ Doolittle tour. All those dates are below.

Jay Reatard:

10-28 Paris, France – Maroquinerie
10-29 Cologne, Germany – Luxor
10-30 Munich, Germany – 59 to 1
10-31 Berlin, Germany – Lido
11-01 Copenhagen, Denmark – Loppen
11-02 Oslo, Norway – Parkteatret
11-03 Malmo, Sweden – Mejeriet
11-04 Hamburg, Germany – Logo
11-05 Prague, Czech Republic – Matrix
11-06 Vienna, Austria – B72
11-07 Bologna, Spain – Covo
11-08 Clermont Ferrand, France – Coop de Mai
11-09 Brussels, Belgium – Botanique Rotonde
11-10 Birmingham, England – Bar Academy
11-11 Glasgow, Scotland – King Tuts
11-12 Manchester, England – Roadhouse
11-13 London, England – Underworld
11-14 Bristol, England – Croft
11-15 Liverpool, England – Masque
11-16 Dublin, Ireland – Whelans
11-21 Chicago, IL – Aragon ^
11-22 Columbus, OH – The Summit
11-23 Pittsburgh, PA – Brillobox
11-24 New York, NY – Hammerstein Ballroom ^
11-25 Northampton, MA – Iron Horse
11-27 Boston, MA – Wang Center ^!!!
11-28 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
11-30 Washington, DC – Constitution Hall ^
12-01 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
12-02 Athens, GA – 40 Watt Club
12-03 Atlanta – The Earl
12-04 Orlando, FL – Backbooth
12-05 Tampa, FL – Crowbar
12-07 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jacks
12-08 Houston, TX – Walter’s on Washington
12-09 Austin, TX – Emo’s Outside
12-10 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
12-31 Milwaukee, WI – Riverside Theatre #

^ with Pixies
# with Spoon
– Pitchfork.com

Chris

WERSNews.com Round Up: Oct. 19, 2009

Obama Eases Federal Medical Marijuana Prosecution
Burr Ends Run For Kennedy’s Seat
Minority Police: No Confidence In Menino
Philip Morris Might Fund Chest Scans
More Than 17,000 Qualify For Scholarship
Iran Threatens To Reject Nuclear Agreement
Stimulus Created, Saved 250,000 Education Jobs
UN Audit Forces Afghan Runoff Election
Obama Reveals Sudan Strategy, Sanctions, Incentives

U.N. To Release Afghan Election Investigation

The U.N.-backed commission investigating reports of fraud in Afghanistan’s controversial presidential election is expected to release its highly-anticipated findings Monday.

We just might have a runoff.

Preliminary results indicate President Hamid Karzai leads with 54 percent of the total. But the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) could throw out enough fraudulent ballots so that Mr. Karzai’s total dips below 50 percent, most likely forcing a runoff with top challenger Abdullah Abdullah.

Things I Miss…

Substitute teachers.

Haven’t had a substitute teacher in college yet, but I’m pretty damn sure they wouldn’t be as awesome as high school subs. Where else do you get to meet the following: a retired engineer/mathematician with expensive sports cars, a former writer for Rolling Stone, an unemployed college graduate with a degree in “art,” a twenty-something hipster, a creep with a huge ass hand, a man who walks with a perpetual limp, a former postman, and a guy who can quote Napoleon Dynamite like it’s part of his job. That’s what I miss.

CD Review: Is And Always Was

Band: Daniel Johnston
Label: Eternal Yip Eye
Release: October 2009

1. “Mind Movies” – 9.4
2. “Fake Records of Rock and Roll” – 8.2
3. “Queenie The Doggie” – 9.3
4. “High Horse” – 9.4
5. “Without You” – 8.9
6. “I Had Lost My Mind” – 9.2
7. “Freedom” – 8.9
8. “Tears” – 9.3
9. “Is And Always Was” – 9.4
10. “Lost In My Infinite Memory” – 8.9
11. “Light of Day” – 8.9

Comments: Daniel Johnston’s “outsider” shtick ended sometime ago, but his awkwardness in music still lives on. He’s just a funny guy at the heart of it all. Very simplistic and catchy tunes show a happy Daniel…a “Love Wheel” Daniel, but not as obnoxious. No more “True Love Will Find You In The End” or “Devil Town” downers. He even tries out a Dinosaur Jr./Built to Spill kind of thing with “I Had Lost My Mind.” I’m not falling over because of this album, but I’m glad to see Danny still kicking it around at the age of 48.

Grade: 9.1

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise